http://FreshCoastK9.com/, https://www.bonfire.com/store/fresh-coast-k9-llc/

Fresh Coast K9, LLC, Traverse City, MI (2026)

05/19/2026

Hey Ms. Darla!!

Met up with Darla and her peeps today for some refresher work! Shes doing well but still struggles in certain areas with distractions under the right conditions. She was much improved by the end of the session, tho we can't say the same for the vocal GSD across the field!🤣 (NOT in our program, but probably should be!).

Distractions can be difficult, but they don't have to be impossible. Clear and consistent structure, along with proper fulfillments, will ensure a dog knows what to do when confronted with uncertainty and help guide them to success.

Dogs have instincts, they have desires and they have the ability to choose. But they don't come pre-programmed for the human world. A leashed world. A fenced world. A world where other dogs can do as they please because owners allow it to happen (ex: unruly off-lead dogs etc).

So we have to teach them! Show them how to navigate a world that is no longer made for them. To ensure and account for their safety and behavior. That is our ownership responsibility. Our training responsibility. Our pack leadership responsibility.

Keep up the good work Ms. Darla! You're growing up so fast!🐕

🌊🏖🐶🐕🐕‍🦺💪

05/07/2026

We did a thing!!!!!🎉🔥

Fresh Coast K9 is proud to offer Dogtra products as part of our overall training services. We have been using several of the Dogtra units for many years, as have many clients, and the variety of training solutions Dogtra offers is second to none!

GPS pet containment systems with NO subscription required? ✅️

Barking and whiney dogs? ✅️

Handheld untis to fit individual dog needs? ✅️

Need replacement parts or batteries? ✅️

We are now able to offer a wide range of dog training solutions for any and all types of dogs and situations. From pets, to work dogs, to hunting dogs, we've got you covered Northern Michigan!

In the next few days, we will be rolling out dedicated training plan options that will accompany specific products listed. This offers peace of mind knowing that your dog has been professionally trained to understand the system they are on!

Stay tuned...

www.freshcoastk9.com

🌊🏖🐶🎉🚔🐕

04/10/2026

Big Full Send Friday and welcome to K9 Jaxx and handler who just completed our handler course!!!🎉🎖🏆

This is only the beginning for this team, as they embark on the best job in law enforcement. They both worked incredibly hard and made great strides to get themselves prepped for going back to work in their new role. There will be ups and downs along the way but you have the knowlegde to see it thru. You also have the support from us, should you need it. We can't teach experience but we crammed as much in as we could. Well done and thanks for your efforts!!

K9 is a tough gig sometimes. Train hard, work hard, stay safe and don't forget to enjoy the journey. K9 leads the way!

🌊🏖🚔🐕🐕‍🦺🔥🏆🎉🤘🫡🫡🐶

04/04/2026

Fullest of Sends for Friday....

This ain't no soccer field, grass footstep, hot dog helper, straight line, go "figure it out on your own cuz you know where it already goes" style track. Not when the wind was howling west-east and then swirling in the pines and the ground is still frozen that it flooded out the road, ran "double blind"...and we started to double back on it, like REAL PERPS DO!

Today was more difficult tracking than we set out for it to be. But...they crushed it. This was a realistic track. The wind alone wouldve caused some seasoned teams we know to struggle, let alone navigating a 2in flooded out section of hard, frozen gravel road. Pushed out to the longest distance thus far and crossed a wooden bridge! Realism.

The best part? The learning that occurred for both dog and handler. We mentioned we can't teach experience before, but some was gained today for sure. We gave them the guidance and they put it into use to troubleshoot and reach the end. Well done.

The moment this team leaves us, the expectations clock begins. People expect they are able to perform. We have to prepare them for that as best we can, with the time and resources allotted. But "basic" doesn't have to mean setting a low standard and using the phrase "they'll figure it out". That's not how things work and its a dangerous way to conduct training. You must teach the dog and you must teach the handler. Period. Train how you deploy.

The tracks today were solo, no instructor help, which could also be realistic in the AO this team will work. So all decisions fall on the handlers shoulders and trust in reading his dog. Modern tech helps show us how it went and we can evaluate the accuracy afterwards, but its pretty clear...

This team wouldve found the lost child today...twice...🔥

🌊🏖🐕🚔🐕‍🦺🔥🔥

04/01/2026

Working Dog Wednesday....banging out reps...

The tracking today was on point. Little homie is up to almost 2/3rds of a mile! We had wind, different surfaces, human and dog cross tracks and high and low terrain. Truly realistic. Now we just keep pushing forward and challenging the team!

Also got some detetction done.

Sometimes the reps are for the dog. Sometimes they're for the handler. Sometimes both. Its true that some dogs are just turn-key. Most are not, as there are too many variables in play that affect things. It takes time (and reps) to build that solid bond and strong relationship.

You can claim to be the best dog trainer in the world, have the strongest, hardest, badest dogs out there, and all the other bravdo this industry likes to advertise. Yet there's still one thing you can't teach: LEASH TIME!

Hands on, boots dirty work done by the dog and handler together. Real experience is earned, not taught, through success and failures as they work in unison. We can teach, guide, instruct, mentor, regale etc, but it does not replace the real learning that takes place when a handler picks up that leash.

Therefore, its reps, reps and more reps...then some more. "You can't do enough reps for a job that requires reps"...think Clifford said that, or was it Lassie?

Anyway, good job today team. Really working hard.

🌊🏖🚔🐕🐕‍🦺💪💪👨‍🏫🇺🇸

03/28/2026

Full Sending this K9s Friday with some tracking! Little late on the Irish Ai tune, but thats 🔥too..

After a successful first visit to the vet this morning, where he was a gentleman, we hit the tracks. We got multiple surfaces and surface changes (which many new dogs NEVER see), we removed food and added articles (also not seen by many) and even worked thru some 💩 distraction...😬

Some may watch this clip and immediately say: "the dog will fail a cert track if they relieve themselves on a track" or "they shouldnt be allowed to do that on a track". First and foremost, when you gotta go...

Look, we understand the certification mindset about 💩 on test day. We get it and it probably stems from the sport world arenas, which is understandable. Yet, our counter argument to that mindset is: why not? Is it not just a distraction to work thru like any other? And more importantly, the issue shouldnt be about the taking of said 💩. It should be "can the dog continue to work AFTER?". If not, THATS the real problem...

We will argue on this hill that its realistic, so long as the dog keeps working...as this little dude clearly did AND his track got harder after too! 🎤⬇️. Deployment tracks aren't perfect. Real world timing of the armed robbery and 💩 schedules arent perfect. If you've been tracking long enough this happens anyway at some point, so let 💩 happen!😁

Little dudes tracks were nice today and even threw some proximity alert behavior that were good learning points for handler. Also, was a that a Team-Flexi leash used for recall??! 🤔🫢🫣🫣

🌊🏖🚔🐕🔥🐕‍🦺🥇💩

#💩trpohiesareforhumans

03/25/2026

Working Dog Wednesday!!🐕🚔

New Puppers first intro to the training group and already making strides!! We ran him thru some gauntlets today to evaluate how progress is and where his head is at. One thing that stands out is the dog's ability to process concepts and apply them thereafter. It has made his progress move forward quicker than anticipated and shows his head is clear.

A large part of our handler training is centered around collaborations. We are A way, not THE way. And the only way is what works best for the individual dog! While we have our system etc, we are not afraid of input from others. While being a Swiss Army Knife is good, sometimes using just the scissors is what ya need.

We are blessed to have some helpers that see things differently and excel in a specialized roles. Masters of their crafts, who work their @$$es off with their dogs. As a new handler (or an old one too), its important to hear from others and their experiences. To learn different perspectives. Learning should never stop. This is why we bring others in to help build our dogs. It takes a village...and ours is full of apex professionals! 💪🫡

🌊🏖🚔🐕🔥👨‍🏫💪🤘

03/21/2026

Little Full Send Friday Police K9 edition...

Yes, there are footprints in the snow..."why don't you just follow them?" 🙄🙄🤦‍♂️(because its not about that, you ignoramus). Its about showing the dog what tracking in the snow might look like and how odor can be affected. We've operationally tracked in snow and blizzards before and contrary to the obvious, when its dark, windy and nobody wants to be outside, you don't always have the luxury of seeing the prints. Also, we have no idea if this dog has even seen snow before moving here, let alone done work in it. So thou shalt show him!!

We also are getting his handler reps in and showing the human what the bricks of house should look like. Foundations are important with us. If you have never been exposed to it, you don't know where to look when something crops up. Taking a little extra time to show the progressions is part of the value within our program. How bout that spin around to commit to odor btw??!! 🔥🔥💪

You could have the most well trained dog on the planet, but it will be useless if you don't have the leash time to make it function properly...gotta get them reps in!

🌊🏖🚔🐕🐕💪🔥❄️👨‍🏫🫡

Poundsign:fck9policedogs

PS: the above quotes are for satire purposes and nobody actually offended us by asking about snow tracking...at least not in the last 10yrs....

03/19/2026

Little Mali is off to a hard workin good start with his new handler!!

Dogs are dogs. Much of what we do with pets, applies to working dogs too. We have been implementing the same protocols many have seen when working with us. Teaching someone to handle or train a dog is the harder part sometimes. Luckily, this officer is on his game and picking up things quickly too! Well done.

It's no secret that we are a small K9 operation. But this allows us to slow down and customize the training for a 1 on 1, personal approach and experience. It's a true learning environment and not a cookie cutter program. It gives us the chance to address the little things we see in real time, which matter down the road. Sure, there are things we miss out on when it comes to a group type class. Yet our job here is to prep this team as efficiently as possible. The Handler needs to see how some of the soup is made because it will help them later when we're not immediately there.

We are honored once again to be able to provide a top quality dog and instructional course to this agency. We have a lot to get thru but we make progress every day. Some can train a dog, others can train handlers. We can do both!!

🌊🏖🚔🐕🐕‍🦺💪💪🔥

03/16/2026

Day 3 with Nikkie New Guy...building progress.

By no means are all reps pretty and at times we are pushing the limits of where hes at. We need to pile on reps and get certain things down. Remember, theyre NOT robots. This is a layer of the foundation. He has a long way to go but we are pleased with how day 3 went.

His jumping bean gear is still in play, but its isolated to coming out for work, so its a threshold thing. Once hes focused in, we now see very little. Its also quicker to get him to focus in. Who can blame him tho, hes excited to go to work!

One thing we have started doing with new dogs, pet or working, is implementing the "touch" command. Especially important for puppies, but it can be conditioned to older dogs too.

Sometimes people have to touch you dog: the vet, a groomer, another handler, etc. This guy has a serious side to him that we hope to show later on. But, it helps to instill a mechanism that shows him "just deal with this grab, poke, prod, manipulation for a second and you'll get paid". Its basic of basic stress innoculation. While we didn't get to the feet today, we will. Its a "dont bite the hand that feeds you" concept. We'll hopefully add some strangers in later too.

Tonight we're rockin the warm hoodie too! Thanks mate!

🌊🏖🚔🐕💪💪❄️🐕‍🦺

03/13/2026

We picked a spicy tamale recently...

Been a little off-grid lately because we have dialed back and changed some things around in life. But importantly, still training dogs!

Such as this little spitfire from . He's got this jumpin bean thing about him, that we didn't see before! Haha

Everyone wants a big dog, until they have to lift em up & over a fence, just sayin. This little guy is already a beast, so don't let the stature fool you. This is day 1, minute 1 and we're feeling out where his heads at. When someone says "I want a Malinois" (that's Mal-in-wah, btw), we usually ask what are you going to use them for? Cuz they need a job people! This guy already has a percentage of training on him and he's still a handful, or worse in the wrong hands. But hes a sharp creature and will be fun to work with.

Again just feeling him out here for a quick session, then jumping right into the reps of: "the 5s". 5 quick reps of each behavior, rest, 5 reps, rest, 5 reps etc. You can bang out a pile in a day...unless your heat breaks and you have to stop🙄. Go figure🤷‍♂️🤔🤦‍♂️

Stay tuned. More to come from this little rocket...

🌊🏖🚔🐕🇺🇸💪

Fresh Coast K9, LLC

05/19/2026

05/07/2026

04/10/2026

04/04/2026

04/01/2026

03/28/2026

03/25/2026

03/21/2026

03/19/2026

03/16/2026

03/13/2026

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